Front operated switch



Sept. 3,k 14940. R N, RQWE 2,213,657

FRONT OPERATED SWITCH Filed 001,. 12, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORSept. 3, 1940. R, N ROW. 2,213,657

FRONT OPERATED SWITCH Filed oor. 12,1938 2 sneets-sneet'z INVENTORPatented Sept. 3, 1940v PAT-ENT OFFICE FRONT OPERATED SWITCH Raymond N.Rowe, Plainvlle, Conn., assignor to The Trumbull Electric ManufacturingCompany, Plainville, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut ApplicationOctober 12, 1938, Serial No. 234,528

10 Claims.

This invention` relates to front operated switches, particularly toswitches with dust proof enclosures.

One object of my invention is to provide a type -of switch box with anexternal operating handle which can be used to receive any suitable formof lever actuated switch.

Another object is to provide switch throwing mechanism that is adaptedto be used with a pr'eassembled type of snap switch mechanism.

Another object is to provide an enclosed switch construction that can beactuated equally well with the cover either open or closed.-

Another object is to provide a front operated enclosed switch in whichthe external switch throwing handle and associated parts aremounted onthe cover of the box or receptacle and yet do -not interfere with theclosing of the cover regardless of the' position of the switch parts.

Another object is to provide a front operated enclosed switch in whichthe external switch throwing handle and associated parts are carried bythe cover and movable therewith without disturbing the interior switchparts.

Another object is to provide a iront operated enclosed switch with meansfor operatively connecting the external operating handle to theintei-nal switch throwing mechanism while the cover is closed on thebox.

Another object is to provide a front operated enclosed switch withautomatic means for moving the external switch throwing handle andassociated parts to an "oi position upon `the opening ofthe cover.

, Another object is to provide switch throwing mechanism that-iseasilyassembled and disassembled.

Another object is to provide such switch actuating mechanism that issimple and compact in construction and positive and certain in action.

Another object is to provide such .a front operated enclosed switch inwhich the cover and the external switch throwing mechanism form aunitary structure.V

In the preferred form of my invention, the box is of a conventional formbut provided'with a handle pivoted onthe front of the cover and amovable member on the inside of the cover connected to the handle andprovided with partsI adapted to coact with `the opera-ting lever of aswitch unit mounted inside of the box in such a way as to permit thecover to be closed regardless ofthe position of the interior lever andto ensure automatic operative connection of the Voutside handle with theinterior lever when the exterior handle is moved to a position tocorrespond with the position of the lever.

Fig. 1 is a front view of an enclosed front operated switch embodyingone form of my invention, with part of the cover being broken away toshow part of the switch throwing mechanism.

Fig. 2 isa side view with part o f the box being broken away to show theinterior, the parts being shown in their operative relation.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the switch with the details of the switch persevbeing omitted.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of .my improved switch with the cover open.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the cover closed with theinside switch lever in the on position while the external handle is inthe oi position.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section generally on the plane of line 6 6 ofFig. 2.

- Fig.. 'l is a front view, on a reduced scale, showing a modificationof my invention, parts being broken away to show the interior.

In the form of my invention 'shown 'the box I6 has a cover II hinged atI2. The top edge of the box is provided with a felt or other suitablegasket I3 to prevent dust'etc. from entering into the box when the coveris closed.

2,102,545 or No. 2,126,412 and suitably mounted in the body of the box.

A switch throwing handle I5 is pivoted to the cover on the outside andis connected to the arm I6 inside by means of a pairof pins or studs I'I`which extend inwardly through the cover and pass through a washeror'disc I8 interposed between the arm I6 and the cover.

Inside of the cover II and slidably or other- -wise suitably supportedby grooved studs I9 is a plate 20; Carried by this plate are two springarms 2|, .one end of veach arm being fixed to the plate and its otherend being free and normally y bent away from the plate with a space 22between the free endsof the arms.

The bifurcated lever or arm I6 is arranged on the inside of the coverand its bifurcated end engages a stud v23 on plate 20 at one side of itscenter line.

.piece upon the closing of the cover.

The plate 20 may have outstruck ears 20 on opposite edges to limitmovement of the plate in either direction.

When the parts are in operative relationthe tip of the lever I4 extendsinto the space 22 between the ends of the'arms 2| so that by swingingthe handle I from one side to the other the switch may be actuated.

The outermost portions of the spring arms 2| Yextend into the box beyondthe outermost end of the nger piece I4 when the cover is closed andbeing of spring material yield when and if they come-into contact withthe end of the finger The arm 2l contacting the top of the lever orfinger piece I4 upon closing the cover may be slid along it by thehandle l5 until the arm slides off the lever I4 and the arms 2I becomeinterlocked with said lever I4. Further movement of the handle I5 willmove the finger piece I4 and switch parts to either on or off position.

The arrangement of the parts preferably is such that upon openingmovement of the cover, the weight of the parts will cause the plate andconnected parts to fall by gravity to the off? circuit position ofFig. 1. This automatically places the switch throwing mechanism inproper position for operative connection with the switch actuatingfinger piece I4 which ordinarily will have been thrown to off circuitposition before the opening of the cover.

From Fig. 5 it will be seen that the cover can be closed even with thefinger lever I4 in the on position. The handle I5 may'then be moved tothe on" position in which the spring arms 2l will snap into connectionwith the lever I4.

A guard member24 having an opening 25 for receiving a padlock or seal(not shown) may be provided to secure the handle I5 if desired. Thecover I I may be held closed on the box by a screw 26 which is adaptedto engage a screw threaded lug 21 on the inside of the box. The covermay be sealed to the box by a padlock or seal (not shown) passingthrough the openings 28 in the spaced lugs 29 directly over the head ofscrew 26.

It will be understood that the improved switch throwing mechanism may beused to actuate the movable switch member of any type of switch orcircuit breaker which is operated by a front lever or toggle typehandle.

The spring arms 2I permit the cover to be closed regardless of theposition of the handle I5 or of the lever I4 because the arms yield andride over the projecting end of the finger piece if not in their properoperative positions and will automatically interlock Yas soon as thehandle I5 is moved sufliciently.

In the modification shown in Figure'l there is a box with a cover 3|,hinged at 32, and with a conventional cover catch or screw 33 forholding the cover closed. A handle 34. similarto the handle I5 of theother form, is pivoted on the outside of the cover, and fixed, to thishandle is a plate 35 on the inside of the cover. Pivotal movement of thehandle will result in direct arcuate movement of the plate 35.

Secured to this plate are two spring arms 36, which are similar to thespring arms 2|, with their free ends bent away fromthe plate and spacedfrom each other to receive' the lever or nger p iece 31 of a switch 38.Inthis form, as in the other, in whichv the device is installed, asusual gravity will urge the switch throwing mechanism to the oilposition illustrated in Figure -7. The spring arms will allow the coverto be closed even if the position of outer handle and inner lever do notcoincide, and will alsosnap into engagement with the switch lever 31when they are moved to proper position.

I claim:

l. Afront actuated enclosed switch including a box open at the front andhaving a cover hinged at one edge, 'switch mechanism mounted in the boxand having an actuating lever with a free end projecting toward thecover, a carrier movably supported by the cover at the inside of thecover, and movable therewith, spring pressed members carried by saidcarrier and having a space to receive the free end of the lever when'the cover is closed, said members and said lever having coactingsurfaces outside of said space shaped so that when the cover is closedsaid members will yield upon engaging said lever, and an external handleat the front of the cover connected to said carrier and moving the sameto engage the lever in said space.

2. In a front actuated switch, a box -having a lever in certainpositions, at least a part of said means engaging the lever and yieldingtoward .the cover in case the cover is closed when the space is not inposition to receive the end of the lever.

3. In a front actuated switch, a box having a. cover hinged thereto,switch mechanism within the box having an operating lever' with an endprojecting toward the cover, an actuating handle carried by the cover atthe outer face thereof, a connec'ting device mounte on the inside 'ofthe cover and connected to the handle and including means at least apart of which includes a flat inclined spring with a movableend, saidmeans having a space adjacent said end to receive the end of the lever,said spring engaging the lever and yielding toward the cover in case thecover is closed when the space is not in position to receive the end ofthe lever.

4.In a switch, a box having a cover hinged thereto, a circuit breakerinv the box having a lever projecting toward thecover, a handle pivotedto the cover and movable therewith, a carrier mounted lon the inside ofthe cover and connected to the handle, spring pressed connecting meanscarried bysaid carrier and normally pressed toward and engaging thehandle when the cover is closed, said carrier, said handle and saidconnecting means being so balancedas to automatically move to the oiposition when the cover is opened and the handle released, saidconnecting means yielding toward the cover when the cover is closedwhile the lever is in the "on position and the handle is in the oifposition.

5. An enclosed switch including a box, a movable cover for said box,switch mechanism in the box including a pivotal finger piece for movingthe movable switch member, a movable handle on the outside of said coverand means of connection between the handle and nger piece whereby saidnger piece is actuated', said means including a member on said handleextending interiorly of the cover, a plate movably suppe-:ted on theinside of said cover and operatively connected to said handle, a pair ofprojections carried by said plate and adapted to be moved into positionto actuate said finger piece and means to limit the movement of theplate, a spring arm support for at least one of the projections adaptedto yield when the cover is closed while the switch lever is in the onposition and the handle is in the off position, said plate being thenmovable by means of the external handle to the on position so as toposition the projections on opposite sides of the switch lever.

6. An enclosed switch including a box, a movable cover for said box,switch mechanism in the box including a finger piece protruding fromsaidmechanism for moving the movable switch member, a movable handle onthe outside of said' cover and normally disengageable means ofconnection between the handle and finger piece whereby said iinger pieceis actuated, said handle and means of connection being adapted to beautomatically moved to oli circuit position upon the opening of thecover, said means of connection including two projections carried by thecover at least one of which consists ofa spring arm adapted to yieldwhen the cover is closed in case the switch lever is in a position tootherwise obstruct the movement of the cover.

7. An enclosed switch including a box, a movable cover for said box,switch mechanism in the box including a nger piece for vmoving themovable switch member, a movable handle on the outside of said cover andmeans of connection between the handle and nger piece whereby saidiinger piece is actuated including a slidable platecarried by the coverand adapted .to vbe moved by gravity to "ofP position upon the openingof the cover whereby the operating handle is moved to o position, saidplate having two projections with a space between them to normally`receive the tip of the iinger piece, at least one of said projectionshaving aA spring arm adapted to yield to permit the plate to be moved toa position in which the tip of the lever can be received between theprojections if the cover is closed when the finger piece is in line withthe a pair of spaced spring arms carried by said plate and adapted to bemoved into position to yengage said finger piece, said plate and iirstnamed arm being so arranged that the movable handle and associated partsare automatically 6 moved to oi position upon the opening of the cover,said arms being resilient and yieldable to permit proper connectionbetween the arms and the nger piece should the cover be closed when thearms are not in position to normally engage the nger piece.

9. An enclosed switch including a box, a movable cover for said box,switch mechanism in the box including a pivotal finger piece protrudingfrom said mechanism for moving the movable switch member, a movablehandle on the outside of the cover and means of connection between thehandle and finger piece whereby said nger piece'is actuated, said meansincluding-a member on said handle extending interiorly of the cover, aslidable. plate operatively connected to the handle and a pair of springarms carried by said plate, each spring arm having one end xed 'to saidplate and its other en d extending freely outwardly and toward the otherarm, the free ends of said spring arms being spaced from each other toreceive the nger piece between them, said spring arms when the cover isclosed being arranged so as to engage said nger piece and so as to bemoved into interlocking engage'- ment with the nger piece by the outsidehandle whereby movement of the plate will move the iinger piece,said'arms being yieldable to permit thecover to be closed even when thefinger piece is not in a position to t between the ends of the arms,said arms permitting proper connection of the arms and the iinger pieceby moving the slidable plate after the cover is closed should the coverbe closed when the parts are not in position to automatically engage.

10. A box for containing an electric switch having a pivoted actuatinglever, said box having a. body portion adapted to support the switch ina position with its actuating lever projecting for-v wardly, a cover`hinged to one edge of the box body, a handle pivoted to the cover on anaxis `perpendicular to the plane of the cover, a plate mounted on theinside of the cover and connected to the handle so that the handle maymove the plate, two spring arms carried by the plate 50 `be closed whenthey are not in position to engage automatically.

RAYMOND N. ROWE.

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